Tyrone vs Louth LIVE score updates from All-Ireland U20 Football Final
Defending champions Tyrone bid for a third All-Ireland U20 Football Championship title in four seasons when they face Louth in tonight's decider in Armagh.
The last Tyrone team to win back-to-back titles at the grade was one of the greatest-ever U21 teams.
Captained by the late, great Cormac McAnallen and managed by Mickey Harte, the Tyrone side that defeated Cork in the final contained the likes of Stephen O'Neill, Brian McGuigan, Kevin 'Hub Hughes, Enda McGinley, Owen Mulligan, Gavin Devlin, Conor Gormley and Philip Jordan.
Eoin McElhom is already making a name for himself at senior level and Paul Devlin will be hoping a few more can make the leap to Malachy O'Rourke's squad in the next year or two.
Indeed, a win tonight would cap a remarkable seven days for the county after their seniors claimed the scalp of Ulster champions Donegal last Saturday before the minors won the Ulster title with a four-point victory over Cavan on Sunday.
Louth football, however, is also enjoying an upturn in fortunes. Offaly denied the county a famous Leinster treble by beating the minors in the provincial final, but the Wee County are U20 and Senior champions.
The U20s, managed by Armagh native Fergal Reel, edged out Mayo 2-12 to 0-17 in the All-Ireland semi-final in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Mayo's Darragh Beirne looked to have brought the game to extra-time, but Adam Gillespie's fisted point in the final minute of injury-time gave Louth a famous win.
Holders Tyrone, meanwhile, claimed a six-point win over Kerry in Portlaoise in what was a repeat of last season's All-Ireland final at the same venue.
First half goals from McElholm and Noamh Grimes proved vital for Paul Devlin's men with Ruairi McCullagh scoring 0-8 in another fine display from the Loughmacrory ace.
We'll have all the latest team news and build-up ahead of throw-in at the Box-It Athletic Grounds at 7.30pm.
Louth: Tiarnan Markey; Micheal Reid, Keelin Martin, Padraic Tinnelly; Tadhg McDonnell, Cormac McKeown, Conor McGinty; Sean Callaghan, James Maguire; Shane Lennon, Conor Mac Críosta, Pearse Grimed- Murphy; Adam Gillespie, Tony McDonnell, Darragh Dorian.
Tyrone: Conan McGarvey; Fiachra Nelis, Ben Hughes, Conor Devlin; Callum Daly, Joey Clarke, Caolan Donnelly; Conan Devlin, Conor O'Neill' Conall Sheehy, Eoin McElholm, Matthew Quinn; Noah Grimes, Ruairi McCullagh, Liam Óg Mossey.
All-Ireland U20 Football Championship Final: Tyrone 1-20 Kerry 1-14
'TYRONE haven't gone away!' Paul Devlin fired out an ominous warning to the rest of Ireland as the Red Hands won a second All-Ireland U20 Football Championship in three seasons with a six-point victory over Kerry in Portlaoise.
The margin of victory didn't flatter Tyrone in the slightest as they were comfortably the better team on the day and led by eight points midway through the second half before Luke Crowley's penalty gave the Kingdom a glimmer of hope late on.
Yet, Tyrone had more than enough in the tank with Eoin McElholm hitting seven points from play with Ruairi McCullagh and Ronan Cassidy contributing 0-10 between them.
Ruairi McHugh, one of three survivors from the 2022 squad, lost his appeal against his late red card in last weekend's semi-final win over Roscommon.
Such is Tyrone's strength-in-depth, his absence wasn't felt and they more than matched Kerry in the middle sector.
The early exchanges were evenly-contested with Daniel Kirby and Cormac Dillon on target for the Kingdom while Ronan Cassidy (free) and Eoin McElholm were on the scoresheet for the Red Hands.
Kerry briefly led when midfielder Eddie Healy scored the first of his two first half points, but Cassidy soon replied for Tyrone before the Ulster champions hit the net.
Cassidy was involved again as he put corner-back Joey Clarke through on goal. The initial shot was partially blocked by Charlie Keating and the deflection wrong-footed Kerry 'keeper Michael Tansley.
Tyrone brought their tally to 1-4 inside 20 minutes when Cassidy scored his third, but Devlin's side left behind another 2-4.
Clarke set up Gavin Potter for another shot at the Kerry goal and he could only watch as his effort crashed off the post while Tansley was alert to make a good save to deny Cormac Devlin moments later.
Dillon's four-point haul helped the Kingdom remain in touch at the break after Tyrone enjoyed the better of the opening half hour in the Portlaoise sun.
Ahead 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time, it took Tyrone just 16 seconds to add to their tally on the start as McCullagh landed another fine point from play.
Kerry managed to close the gap back to three points after scores from Paddy Lane and Dillon (two frees).
McElholm and Dillon exchanged scores either side of another missed goal chance for Tyrone with Tansley making a great save to deny Cassidy while Potter had his attempt from the rebound cleared off the line.
The lack of a second goal didn't faze Tyrone as they moved into top gear, kicking some glorious points as they threatened to turn the final into a rout.
They hit 0-5 without replay with Kerry unable to halt their prolific attacking trio of McElholm, McCullagh and Cassidy.
A tug on Luke Crowley's jersey by Tyrone skipper Rafferty gave Kerry a lifeline which they grabbed when the Glenflesk clubman buried his penalty beyond the reach of Conor McAneney.
However, it proved to be a mere blip on an otherwise flawless afternoon for Tyrone. They were as excellent in defence as they were in attack.
Callum Daly made a superb block late on while Shea O'Hare was always an outlet for his side.
Evan Boyle scored a fine score for Kerry in the closing minutes while the excellent Dillon brought his tally to 0-8, narrowly edging past McElhom's haul of seven for Tyrone.
It was one of the few battles won by Kerry as their wait for an All-Ireland title at the U20 grade will extend to 17 seasons.
TYRONE: C McAneney; J Clarke 1-0, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; S O'Hare, M Rafferty, O Brolly 0-1; R Fox, C O'Neill; Cormac Devlin 0-1, E McElholm 0-7, G Potter; R McCullagh 0-5 (0-1f), R Cassidy 0-5 (0-1f), C Daly.
Subs: F Nelis for Conor Devlin (39), C Donnelly for Brolly (44), N Grimes for Potter (54), C Owens 0-1 for McCullagh (59), R Donnelly for Cassidy (61)
KERRY: M Tansley; M Lynch, D O'Callaghan, G Evans; C Keating, D O'Connor, C Lynch; R Stack, E Healy 0-2; D Kirby 0-1, O Ferris, T Kennedy; C Dillon 0-8 (0-3fs, 0-1m), A Crowley, L Crowley 1-1 (1-0 pen).
Subs: R Diggin for O'Callaghan (29), P Lane 0-1 for A Crowley (HT), F Murphy for Kirby (46), E Boyle 0-1 for Stack (47), A Segal for Evans (49).
REFEREE: P Neilan (Roscommon).
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